Who Can Vote in Austria?

When I moved to Austria, one of the things I was really curious about was: can I vote here?
The answer is: it depends — on your citizenship, your age, and what kind of election it is.

Here’s a quick, simple guide!

1. Austrian Citizens

If you have Austrian citizenship, you can vote in:

• National elections (for the parliament)

• Presidential elections

• Local elections (city or municipal council)

• European Parliament elections

You need to be:

• At least 16 years old for most elections (yes, 16 — not 18!)

• Properly registered (Meldezettel)

2. EU Citizens Living in Austria

If you’re a citizen of another EU country but living in Austria, you can vote in:

• Local elections (Gemeinderatswahl)

• European Parliament elections

BUT you cannot vote in national elections (like parliamentary or presidential).

You also need to:

• Register on the EU citizen voters list (Europa-Wählerevidenz) at your local municipality.

• Have your main residence (Hauptwohnsitz) in Austria.

3. Non-EU Citizens

If you’re from a non-EU country (like the USA, Canada, Serbia, Turkey, etc.),
you sadly don’t have the right to vote in Austrian elections — not even local ones.

Only way to get voting rights: eventually becoming an Austrian citizen through naturalization (which takes several years).

Quick Summary Table

If you’re not sure about your voting rights, check with your local municipal office (Magistrat or Gemeindeamt). They are super helpful, and you can usually sort everything out easily if you’re already registered with your Meldezettel.